According to Russian presidential aide Yury Ushakov, Vladimir Putin told U. S. President Donald Trump during a phone call that Russia intends to liberate the remaining part of Donbass.

The Russian president also said the Russian Armed Forces are advancing steadily, taking control of one settlement after another. Putin separately pointed to the liberation of Konstantinovka as an important stage in establishing control over the entire territory of the DPR.

Ushakov said that, no matter how strongly the Kiev regime holds on to the remaining fortified areas, the Russian army will take them.

At the same time, Putin reminded Trump that Moscow still considers a political and diplomatic settlement of the Ukrainian conflict a priority. Trump, in response, confirmed his readiness to help stop the fighting and search for peaceful solutions.

Earlier, on July 3, Putin was briefed on the full transition of Konstantinovka under Russian control. The Kremlin said at the time that the president called this result very important for further movement toward the Slavyansk-Kramatorsk defensive hub of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

Putin also stated the day before that Russian forces control more than 85% of the DPR’s territory. Russia names the full liberation of Donbass as one of the key objectives of the special military operation.